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Aether
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Aether is a rogue planet in the Dasha region, in the periphery of Galactic Federation territory.[1] Local lore describes the planet to once have been "a fertile, aged world, with bountiful fields and oceans"[2] The paradise did not last forever. A Leviathan from Phaaze, similar to the one found on Tallon IV, struck the planet, despite the efforts to change its trajectory by the local inhabitants, the Luminoth. Massive environmental damage and a war between the two dominant races, the Ing and the Luminoth, devastated a good portion of the Luminoth population. Extreme climate shifts left most of Aether uninhabitable. The northern regions of the planet still support life and have served as a Phazon mining post for the Space Pirates. After the crisis was solved, the Luminoth began the long task of mending Aether and returning it to its former glory.[3]
Dark Aether
- Main article: Dark Aether
Approximately five decades prior to the events of Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, a Leviathan struck the planet's surface, splitting the planet's energy flow in two, thus creating the alternate dimension, known as Dark Aether. Inhospitable to normal life, Dark Aether developed an ecosystem of its own, supporting strange hostile creatures known as the Ing. The Ing engaged in war with Aether's dominant sentient species, the Luminoth over the control of the planet's natural energy.
Originally the energy was regulated by devices built by the Luminoth called Energy Controllers. The devices provided the Luminoth many technological wonders, including a weather control grid and a teleportation network. Dark Aether had similar devices, linked to its planetary energy.[4] Unaware of the origin of the Leviathan, the Luminoth continually refer to it as a comet throughout the game.
Space Pirates arrive
After the fall of the Luminoth, a Space Pirate science team detected the presence of Phazon on Aether and shortly there after the Space Pirate High Command authorized the deployment of a mining team. The team found large amounts of valuable Phazon, but soon fell under attack of the Ing. The science team found ways to utilize the Dark Beam created by the Luminoth to open spatial rifts into Dark Aether for mining operations. After entering Dark Aether, the Space Pirates soon faced a new threat: Dark Samus, mistaking the creature for Samus Aran.
Outnumbered by the Ing, the Space Pirates called for reinforcements, which the High Command was happy to send out. The ship carrying the reinforcements was shot down by the Galactic Federation vessel G.F.S. Tyr. In the conflict, both vessels suffered heavy damage. After the Federation lost contact with its Marines, Samus Aran was called in to investigate. Upon arrival Samus found the planet in a state of transdimentional flux, split into two worlds. Aether and Dark Aether. [1]
Aether after the crisis
Once Samus was able to rid the planet of its dark twin, the Federation took great scientific interest in it. Samus had previously eradicated all known samples of pure Phazon on Tallon IV, but on Aether there was an abundance of the strange substance. Research with Phazon eventually lead to the development of the Phazon Enhancement Device Suit, that was later used for military purposes. The device was also utilized by Samus in her efforts to destroy Phaaze.[5] The surviving Luminoth began to mend Aether in order to return it to its natural state.
Inhabitants
Luminoth
- Main article: Luminoth
The Luminoth are a peaceful, highly advanced, sentient species that have previously inhabited large areas of the planet. In her logbook, Samus estimates that their technology is on par with that of the Chozo. Their civilization was brought to an end by the Phazon comet. A handful of the Luminoth survived in protective stasis, in wait of the crisis to clear. The species is capable of flight and psionics.[6]
According to Luminoth Lore, the species did not originate on Aether. They were starborn explorers of the galaxy, meeting with a vast number of "enlightened minds" such as the N'Kren, the Ylla, the Chozo .[7] and the Bryyonians.[8]
Ing
- Main article: Ing
In the Luminoth language "Ing" stands for terror. The species is capable of morphing itself to numerous different shapes. These variations serve a wide variety of purposes. Everything from storing valuable items to waging war. The Ing are also able to take control of other lifeforms as well as their deceased bodies. [9]
Logbook Entries
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Science teams have discovered the presence of Phazon in the Dasha system four cycles ago. High command authorized the deployment of our team shortly thereafter. Our orders are to establish a base on planet Aether and evaluate local Phazon resources. Because this world lies on the periphery of Galactic Federation territory, we are following stealth protocols at the highest level. A cadre of elite commandos has been dispatched to provide security for our force as well. This operation is now under way." —Space Pirate Logs: Log 04.468.1 (Metroid Prime 2: Echoes)
- ↑ "Aether was a fertile, aged world with bountiful fields and oceans. The native creatures were gentle compared to the other worlds we had encountered. We settled in a mountain region first, in cliffside dwellings. In time, we established settlements in the green forest of Torvus and in the fertile plains of Agon. A Great Temple was built between our three domains, a place of peace and a monument to our accomplishments. It was a time of harmony for our people." —Luminoth Lore: Paradise (Metroid Prime 2: Echoes)
- ↑ Metroid Prime 3: Corruption logbook: Aether
- ↑ Metroid Prime 2: Echoes logbook: Dark Aether, Energy Collecter
- ↑ Metroid Prime 3: Corruption logbook: Galactic Federation Data: Phazon Enhancement Device
- ↑ Metroid Prime 2: Echoes logbook: U-Mos
- ↑ "It is told that the Luminoth were not born of Aether, but of the stars. In the early days, we roamed the greatness of the void, bathing in the glorious light of a thousand stars We met a vast number of enlightened minds... the N'Kreen, the Ylla, and the Chozo among them. Each of them, we found, had claimed a homeworld and formed a deep bond with it. In time, we decided to do the same." —Luminoth Lore: Origins (Metroid Prime 2: Echoes)
- ↑ Metroid Prime 3: Corruption logbook: Lore: Bryyo Data: Age of Science
- ↑ "In time, we created machines to open rifts to our enemy's world. Volunteer scouts went through the rifts and found a twisted world, harsh and poisonous...a Dark Aether. They discovered that this world held the missing half of our planet's energy. They also saw the true face of the enemy, a race we came to call "Ing", meaning terror. Our scouts could not survive long on the surface of Dark Aether, so venomous was its air. Still, we vowed to return. We prepared for war." —Luminoth Lore: Dark Aether (Metroid Prime 2: Echoes)
- ↑ "{{{entry}}}" — Logbook entry ([[|Invalid game]])
